Barnes & Noble

Humankind's uncertain place in the modern world inspires epic cinematic poetry in the first two films of the so-called "Qatsi" trilogy from director Godfrey Reggio and composer Philip Glass. Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqquatsi are film portraits without words -- a remarkable fusion of Glass's hypnotic minimalist music with vivid imagery. In the more striking of the two films, 1983's Koyaanisqatsi (the title is a Hopi word that means "life out of balance"), Reggio collaborated with cinematographer Ron Fricke (Baraka) to contrast the awesome splendor of nature with the rhythms of automated urban life. This is accomplished through striking shifts of perspective, as fast- and slow-motion photography and wide-angle and telephoto lenses create a fuguelike intertwining of visual metaphors. Most arresting are the speeded-up scenes of traffic and crowds that reveal an urban environment pulsing and breathing like a huge organism. By contrast, 1988's Powaqqatsi (Hopi for "a way of life that consumes other ways of life") is a more restrained affair. Here, the Third World is explored in slow-motion images that capture the impact of modernization and urbanization on ancient, simpler ways of life. Through visual collages of such TV images as advertisements, newscasts, sports events, and war reports, Reggio depicts a world haunted by technology. Ultimately, each film is powerful in its own way, though only the first can lay claim to have been truly groundbreaking. While the decades since Koyaanisqatsi's release have seen this type of imagery become more familiar to us through TV ads and even MTV, these remarkable films still have the power to inspire awe and dread. Gregory Baird

All Movie Guide

Powaqqatsi was the second of the feature-length "non narrative" films produced, directed and co-scripted by Godfrey Reggio. As in his earlier Koyaanisqatsi, Reggio utilizes a collage of sounds and gimmicked-up images to make a comment on modern life. And as in the earlier film, Reggio's onslaught of imagery is backed up by the music of Philip Glass. This time, Reggio concentrates on Third World cultures, and the way those cultures are perceived and sometimes exploited by the power merchants of the world. Powaqqatsi was supposed to be the second in a trilogy, but wasn't as eagerly embraced by viewers and critics as its popular predecessor. Hal Erickson

All Movie Guide

An art-house circuit sensation, this feature-length documentary is visually arresting and possesses a clear, pro-environmental political agenda. Without a story, dialogue, or characters, Koyaanisqatsi (1983) (the film's title is a Hopi word roughly translated into English as "life out of balance") is composed of nature imagery, manipulated in slow motion, double exposure or time lapse, juxtaposed with footage of humans' devastating environmental impact on the planet. Starting with an ancient rock wall painting, the film moves through sequences depicting clouds, waves, and other natural features, then into man-made landscapes such as buildings, earth-altering construction machinery, and cars. The message of director Godfrey Reggio is clear: humans are destroying the planet, and all of human progress is pointlessly foolish. Also notable for its intense, atmospheric score by new age composer Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi (1983) was a labor of love for Reggio, who spent several years filming it. The film was followed by sequels, Powaqqatsi (1988), Anima Mundi (1991) and Naqoyqatsi (1999). Karl Williams

Product Details

• UPC: 027616880338
• Source: MGM (VIDEO & DVD)
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Theatre Wide-Screen (1.85.1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: Français, Español
• Time: 3:04:00
• Sales Rank: 5,354

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• Koyaanisqatsi
• Powaqqatsi

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